UDA drops Keroche, installs Maina as deputy leader in Senate

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 4 — The Senate has confirmed the removal of Tabitha Keroche as Deputy Majority Leader, with Nominated Senator Veronica Maina taking her place in a fresh shake-up of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party’s leadership.

In a communication to the House on Wednesday, Speaker Amason Kingi said the changes followed a resolution by the Majority Party to remove Keroche and elect Maina to the position.

Kingi told Senators that he had received correspondence dated November 3 from Senate Majority Whip David Wakoli, accompanied by minutes of the Majority Party meeting and a signed list of senators supporting the resolution.

“The correspondence and the attached minutes indicate that a resolution was passed by the Majority Party to remove the Deputy Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Tabitha Keroche, in accordance with Standing Order 22(5),” Kingi said.

He added that the Majority Party had elected Maina to replace her pursuant to Standing Order 22(6).

“In this respect, I have verified the correspondence received and hereby communicate that the Majority Party has effected a change in the Office of the Deputy Senate Majority Leader. The new office holder, with immediate effect, is Sen. Veronica Maina,” the Speaker announced.

The changes follow Keroche’s defection from UDA to the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Keroche announced on October 9 that she would seek the Nakuru governorship on the DCP ticket, signalling a contest with incumbent Governor Susan Kihika (UDA), with whom she has had an increasingly public political dispute.

The Senator was elected in 2022 on a UDA ticket but has increasingly criticised the ruling party’s leadership, accusing influential figures around President William Ruto of weakening its popularity.

In July, she blamed UDA’s defeat in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election on political arrogance, intimidation and the conduct of leaders close to the President.

“It’s time that the President reconstituted his inner circle as the current ones are tarnishing his name and are responsible for the loss in Ol Kalou,” she said.

She also warned that discontent within the party was pushing leaders to reconsider their political affiliations ahead of the next election.

Her departure to DCP has now been followed by her removal from the Senate’s Deputy Majority Leadership, with Maina taking over the position.

The change was effected under Standing Order 22, which provides for the election and removal of office holders belonging to the Majority Party in the Senate.

Under the rules cited by Kingi, a Senator elected to one of the designated majority party leadership positions may be removed by a majority vote of senators belonging to the party.

The Speaker said he had verified the correspondence and supporting documents before communicating the change to the House.